Improvement in railway-signals



P. B. v,ASPINWALL.

Railway-Signal.

No. 221,267. Patented Nov. 4, 1879.

Int/en {or N. PETERS. PHOTO-LIT HER, WASH TATES PATNT IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22],?67, .datcd November 4, 1879; application filed September 11, 1879.

'1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK B. ASPINWALL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will ena ble others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation, showing the interior mechanism and arrangement. Fig.2 represents an external side elevation. Fig. 3 represents a sectional end elevation, showing the internal mechanism. Fig. 4 represents an end view, and Fig. 5represents a side view, of one of a number of similar parts of the internal mechanism.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts. My invention consists in the use of colored signal-lights and colored signal-boards, so com- To the peripheral center of the lower quad-' rant, (3, of the frame A is securely attached a board or plate, G, which is of the same color as that of the covering of the quadrant B. To the lower corner of said frame-A is attached a weight, h, and to the upper corner of said frame is attached a cord, d.

When said semicircular frame is constructed as above described, it is placed within the box or housing A, near its side walls, on the pivot or axle f, so that when left free it will fall through the slot at in the end wall of said box A into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Through the side of the box A an opening, H, is made opposite the upper quadrant, B, when said quadrant is in the position last described, and immediately opposite and on the Any common lamp or lantern, I, may be used for the purpose described. In this case the light I is placed at the desired point through the opening 6 by means of the cord g.

When no special signal is required the signal board or boardsG are drawn within the housing A against the stop 8 by pulling the' cord (7, which cord then assumes the position d, and is there fastened. As a result of the last-described change, the board Gr assumes the position of G, and the quadrant G that of B, and B that of B. WVhen the several parts are in the position last described a white light is seen through the openings H and H, which is the signal for all right or no danger, and such signal will be made more positive from the fact that no signal-board G is displayed.

IV hen a special danger-signal is requiredas, for instance, the red light-the cord 01, holding the quadrant 13, covered with that particular color, is released, and by the help of the weight h the red board Gr falls into the position G, and the red covering on. the quadrant at B comes to the position B, when both the board G and quadrant B will display the same color-viz., red.

If it should be desired to give a caution or danger signal in an opposite direction from the same apparatus, the board G, as seen falling from the right in Fig. 2, would be released to fall down and point in the opposite direction from that of G, and then the opening H, opposite to that of H, would display its proper color corresponding to the color of that of the board G just released.

The signal-boards being so arranged that they will fall and take positions directly 0pposite each other, no other color or light but the one intended could be seen by trains comin g from opposite directions on the same or on parallel tracks, even it the boards G should be made to fall out only on the same side of the housing A.

It will he observed that at. both 11 and G the same colors are displayed in the day-time as well as at night, and consequently should an engineer or person in charge of a train be more or less atl'eeted with color-blindness, and so fail to distinguish the color of the light. through the opening II or II, he could not fail to discover that a danger-signal of some kind was meant. when he saw the board G extended from the box A, and act accordingly.

If from any cause the cord (1 should be broken or released accidentally, the weight It will cause the board Gr to fall in the position shown in Fig. 5.

I do not intend to be limited to the cord (2 as a means of operating the frame A, as it is evident it may be operated by other mechanical means, and also in connection with electrical apparatus.

I do not intend to claim, broadly, a eomt t lnned railway day and nlght signal operated 1 simultaneously, as such signals, I am aware, have been heretofore made, but, on account; of their complicated construction or uncertainty of operation, have met with butlittle or no favor with railway companies.

Having thus explained my invention, what; I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters latent, is-

lhe combination, with the box or housing A, provided with the openings II and II a. and a, of one or more pivoted and weighted frames, A, each consisting of the quadrants B G and signal hoard or plate Cr, the upper quadrant; of each frame A being covered with a. colored translucent material, and the lower quadrant being uncovered or open, and each signalhoard being colored to correspond with its covered quadrant, allconstructcd and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

FRANK I ASPINWALL.

\Yitnesses:

(l. M. HIGGINSON, WiLLIAn ZUUIERMAN. 

